Facilities around Highway 290 draw scores of athletes

Twelve youth baseball/softball fields are clustered around Tyger River Park.

ALEX C. HICKS JR./alex.hicks@shj.com

By Pam Prevatte

Published: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 1:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 1:06 p.m.

For most of Spartanburg’s Highway 290 corridor, life centers around industry. Draxlmaier, Barnet Polymers, Eaton, Sealed Air and numerous other international companies call this stretch of road in western Spartanburg County home.

However, there are more than BMW parts being made and global operations managed here. In a span of approximately three miles, two sports facilities also have laid claim to this turf. Much like their manufacturing neighbors, they are known nationally for their quality and dedication. But it’s safe to say they’re a little more playful … and definitely have more fun.

At the Middle Tyger YMCA, swimmers from kindergarten through high school train with the Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club while just off Highway 290 is the 140-acre Tyger River Park — a haven for baseball and softball players. Each facility hosts events which quite simply are among the best in the Upstate, and many say no one can match them in the state or even the region.

“If you drive down 290, you see the beautifully landscaped commercial properties and the huge industries and the residential areas, and we have the new park and the facilities at the Middle Tyger YMCA and their success, and it all adds up to a great quality of life that we have in this area. It just can’t be beat,” said Spartanburg County Council member Roger Nutt, who represents the county’s District 6, which encompasses the Highway 290 area.

Tyger River Park

It’s a little past one on a recent Saturday afternoon and hundreds of kids are scattered around the Tyger River Park. Many are in their crisp white baseball pants chasing down balls on one of the fields while some are enjoying the playgrounds. Others simply just like to run and play a good ole’ game of tag while dodging those walking in the park-like setting.

The best part of this day? It’s being repeated weekend after weekend throughout the year. When Tyger River Park opened in March 2012, it did so with a bang. The staff of the Spartanburg County Parks Department, which owns and operates the $17.6 million facility, had already secured tournaments for every weekend through December 2012 and went on to host 65 tournaments over a 40-week period. According to a report by Clemson’s International Institute for Tourism Research and Development, more than 100,000 people visited Tyger River Park in 2012, including about 60,000 from outside Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

This year is looking just as good. Baseball and softball tournaments are scheduled for every weekend through December. During the week, youth leagues from Spartanburg’s District 5 and District 6 call these fields home.

“This is a premier facility, said Dennis Hodges, park operations manager. “There’s really nothing like it around here. There’s nothing to compare it to.”

Hodges’ office is in the large clubhouse that anchors the park. He only has to step outside to hear the crack of the bats and laughter from kids. For him, it’s easy to sell these facilities. And why not? Tyger River Park features 12 youth baseball/softball fields arranged in convenient four-field clusters, along with a championship stadium with seating for up to 600 people.

“This park is very unique for an area such as ours,” Nutt said. “The park itself is one of the best in the Southeast. People call us from all over the country to find out about it. And the comments we receive from people who have visited here are not only about the park, but about how friendly the people in the community are.”

When the NSA Girls Fastpitch World Series was held at Tyger River Park last July, it brought in thousands of visitors and created about 2,000 room nights at local hotels. Hodges said that when large tournaments such as that are held, families often use the tournament as a vacation, meaning lots of time also is spent in the community. In fact, larger tournaments usually are held in destination cities — places that are home to beaches, mountains or theme parks.

“It is a challenge for us when we bid for tournaments because we don’t have a beach or anything such as that to offer,” said Marcia Murff, director of public relations and development for the Spartanburg County Parks Department. “But this park is just that good that we can attract tournaments which might have previously gone to places like the Gulf Shores (Ala.) or Chattanooga.”

While the fields are at the heart of this facility, don’t think it’s just for ball players. The playground is one of the country’s best. Located in the middle of the park, the play area is far enough from the fields so as to not cause any interference. There are swings, slides, tunnels, sand boxes and a free-standing Spider Web Climber where kids can scale to the top via a series of ropes. There’s also convenient seating for parents.

The park has picnic tables throughout its grounds. Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., guests are welcome to pack a meal and spend the day. And, if the park wasn’t enough, starting this summer, construction will begin on a 1.9-mile walking trail around the park. Already folks can be seen walking and jogging on the roadway around the park’s perimeter. In December, work will begin on a splash pad similar to the one at Barnet Park in downtown Spartanburg.

“I just feel good every time I walk out that door out into the park,” Murff said. It doesn’t matter what’s going on. It just makes you feel good.”

Y-Spartaquatics

To truly understand the impact and success of the Middle Tyger Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club, it’s best to start with the numbers.

--At the YMCA National Short Course Swimming Championship held in April, the team came in second overall. Individually, the girls finished third while the boys were fourth. And that’s competing against 1,550 top swimmers on 253 teams from across the country.

-- The team is ranked number 13 in the country for all swim clubs. This is out of 2,800 teams.

-- Eight members of the team competed in the U.S. Olympic trials last summer. Only 2,000 swimmers in the country — out of 250,000 swimmers — qualified for the trials.

-- Since 2008, the team has swept all nine South Carolina state titles for swimming.

“We have been very fortunate here,” said head coach Peter Wright, who has been with the club since 2002 and has seen it grow from about 100 swimmers when he arrived to the 475 now.

Six days a week these swimmers train at the facility’s indoor 50-meter/25-yard competition pool (Olympic size pool) and/or the 25-yard teaching and therapy pool. The competition pool is one of only three of its size in the state. In fact, the facility has one of the top YMCA pools in the Southeast.

“This YMCA was built (in 1997) to support the swim team and swimming but it also helps the entire community,” Wright said. “People can use it for recreation, for therapy; it’s here for them.”

Throughout the week, swimmers of all levels fill the two pools. About 300 members of the team train at the Middle Tyger YMCA, with the remainder training at the Thomas E. Hannah Family YMCA located in downtown Spartanburg. About 70 percent of the team’s swimmers live outside of Spartanburg County, driving here from throughout the Upstate, Georgia and North Carolina.

“Our success comes down to three things: We have had a consistent coaching staff, including three people who have been here for an average of five years or more — Karl Kozicki, Tim Conley, Erin McConkey. They have been very loyal and they are great coaches. The YMCA has been very supportive of us and we have parents and volunteers who really work hard to make our program a success. They all are a reason we can do what we do.”

The Y-Spartaquatics, also known as the Sea Cucumbers or Sea Cukes, fills its pool deck with visiting competitors about 10 weekends a year when it hosts regional and state swim meets. These events last an average of three days and draw about 500 competitors from throughout the Southeast. Much like their counterparts at Tyger River Park, these visitors stay in area hotels and fill seats at restaurants along Highway 290.

“This community on 290 has been so supportive of us,” Wright said. “I’ve gotten to know the business owners and have developed legitimate friendships with them. It’s also been interesting to see this area grow. I remember when it just had a McDonald’s and a Clock, and it’s grown so much with all the hotels and restaurants over the years.”

Nutt has been a member of the Middle Tyger YMCA since the 1990s and has seen firsthand its growth and the many championships its swim team has collected.

“We are fortunate to have the Middle Tyger Y and its top facilities in this area,” Nutt said. “It’s another winning program for this area. And when people come to these swim meets, they are eating in our restaurants and staying in our hotels.”

All of this attention garnered by the sports clubs, programs and parks along Highway 290 have not gone unnoticed by Spartanburg’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. Executive director Chris Jennings said while the area historically has been known for its sports, these facilities are grabbing a new wave of attention.

“Recently, Spartanburg has gained national publicity for hosting youth sports events — specifically softball and baseball tournaments at the new Tyger River Park, as well state and regional swim meets hosted by Y-Spartaquatics swim club at the Middle Tyger YMCA,” Jennings said.

“The CVB is working with the County Parks Department, county school districts, local clubs and community groups to bring more of these sports tourism events to Spartanburg County because it brings more visitors to our region who stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, buy groceries, shop and visit our attractions.”

<p>For most of Spartanburg's Highway 290 corridor, life centers around industry. Draxlmaier, Barnet Polymers, Eaton, Sealed Air and numerous other international companies call this stretch of road in western Spartanburg County home.</p><p>However, there are more than BMW parts being made and global operations managed here. In a span of approximately three miles, two sports facilities also have laid claim to this turf. Much like their manufacturing neighbors, they are known nationally for their quality and dedication. But it's safe to say they're a little more playful … and definitely have more fun.</p><p>At the Middle Tyger YMCA, swimmers from kindergarten through high school train with the Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club while just off Highway 290 is the 140-acre Tyger River Park — a haven for baseball and softball players. Each facility hosts events which quite simply are among the best in the Upstate, and many say no one can match them in the state or even the region.</p><p>“If you drive down 290, you see the beautifully landscaped commercial properties and the huge industries and the residential areas, and we have the new park and the facilities at the Middle Tyger YMCA and their success, and it all adds up to a great quality of life that we have in this area. It just can't be beat,” said Spartanburg County Council member Roger Nutt, who represents the county's District 6, which encompasses the Highway 290 area. </p><p><b>Tyger River Park</b></p><p>It's a little past one on a recent Saturday afternoon and hundreds of kids are scattered around the Tyger River Park. Many are in their crisp white baseball pants chasing down balls on one of the fields while some are enjoying the playgrounds. Others simply just like to run and play a good ole' game of tag while dodging those walking in the park-like setting.</p><p>The best part of this day? It's being repeated weekend after weekend throughout the year. When Tyger River Park opened in March 2012, it did so with a bang. The staff of the Spartanburg County Parks Department, which owns and operates the $17.6 million facility, had already secured tournaments for every weekend through December 2012 and went on to host 65 tournaments over a 40-week period. According to a report by Clemson's International Institute for Tourism Research and Development, more than 100,000 people visited Tyger River Park in 2012, including about 60,000 from outside Greenville and Spartanburg counties.</p><p>This year is looking just as good. Baseball and softball tournaments are scheduled for every weekend through December. During the week, youth leagues from Spartanburg's District 5 and District 6 call these fields home. </p><p>“This is a premier facility, said Dennis Hodges, park operations manager. “There's really nothing like it around here. There's nothing to compare it to.”</p><p>Hodges' office is in the large clubhouse that anchors the park. He only has to step outside to hear the crack of the bats and laughter from kids. For him, it's easy to sell these facilities. And why not? Tyger River Park features 12 youth baseball/softball fields arranged in convenient four-field clusters, along with a championship stadium with seating for up to 600 people. </p><p>There's also a top notch clubhouse, viewing tower, concession areas, umpire changing rooms, lounge and VIP suite as well as wireless Internet, covered seating, two playgrounds, TVs for tracking weather conditions (and just maybe catching-up on sports scores) and ample parking.</p><p>“This park is very unique for an area such as ours,” Nutt said. “The park itself is one of the best in the Southeast. People call us from all over the country to find out about it. And the comments we receive from people who have visited here are not only about the park, but about how friendly the people in the community are.”</p><p>When the NSA Girls Fastpitch World Series was held at Tyger River Park last July, it brought in thousands of visitors and created about 2,000 room nights at local hotels. Hodges said that when large tournaments such as that are held, families often use the tournament as a vacation, meaning lots of time also is spent in the community. In fact, larger tournaments usually are held in destination cities — places that are home to beaches, mountains or theme parks. </p><p>“It is a challenge for us when we bid for tournaments because we don't have a beach or anything such as that to offer,” said Marcia Murff, director of public relations and development for the Spartanburg County Parks Department. “But this park is just that good that we can attract tournaments which might have previously gone to places like the Gulf Shores (Ala.) or Chattanooga.”</p><p>While the fields are at the heart of this facility, don't think it's just for ball players. The playground is one of the country's best. Located in the middle of the park, the play area is far enough from the fields so as to not cause any interference. There are swings, slides, tunnels, sand boxes and a free-standing Spider Web Climber where kids can scale to the top via a series of ropes. There's also convenient seating for parents. </p><p>The park has picnic tables throughout its grounds. Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., guests are welcome to pack a meal and spend the day. And, if the park wasn't enough, starting this summer, construction will begin on a 1.9-mile walking trail around the park. Already folks can be seen walking and jogging on the roadway around the park's perimeter. In December, work will begin on a splash pad similar to the one at Barnet Park in downtown Spartanburg.</p><p>“I just feel good every time I walk out that door out into the park,” Murff said. It doesn't matter what's going on. It just makes you feel good.”</p><p><b>Y-Spartaquatics</b></p><p>To truly understand the impact and success of the Middle Tyger Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club, it's best to start with the numbers. </p><p>--At the YMCA National Short Course Swimming Championship held in April, the team came in second overall. Individually, the girls finished third while the boys were fourth. And that's competing against 1,550 top swimmers on 253 teams from across the country.</p><p>-- The team is ranked number 13 in the country for all swim clubs. This is out of 2,800 teams.</p><p>-- Eight members of the team competed in the U.S. Olympic trials last summer. Only 2,000 swimmers in the country — out of 250,000 swimmers — qualified for the trials.</p><p>-- Since 2008, the team has swept all nine South Carolina state titles for swimming.</p><p>“We have been very fortunate here,” said head coach Peter Wright, who has been with the club since 2002 and has seen it grow from about 100 swimmers when he arrived to the 475 now.</p><p>Six days a week these swimmers train at the facility's indoor 50-meter/25-yard competition pool (Olympic size pool) and/or the 25-yard teaching and therapy pool. The competition pool is one of only three of its size in the state. In fact, the facility has one of the top YMCA pools in the Southeast.</p><p>“This YMCA was built (in 1997) to support the swim team and swimming but it also helps the entire community,” Wright said. “People can use it for recreation, for therapy; it's here for them.”</p><p>Throughout the week, swimmers of all levels fill the two pools. About 300 members of the team train at the Middle Tyger YMCA, with the remainder training at the Thomas E. Hannah Family YMCA located in downtown Spartanburg. About 70 percent of the team's swimmers live outside of Spartanburg County, driving here from throughout the Upstate, Georgia and North Carolina. </p><p>“Our success comes down to three things: We have had a consistent coaching staff, including three people who have been here for an average of five years or more — Karl Kozicki, Tim Conley, Erin McConkey. They have been very loyal and they are great coaches. The YMCA has been very supportive of us and we have parents and volunteers who really work hard to make our program a success. They all are a reason we can do what we do.”</p><p>The Y-Spartaquatics, also known as the Sea Cucumbers or Sea Cukes, fills its pool deck with visiting competitors about 10 weekends a year when it hosts regional and state swim meets. These events last an average of three days and draw about 500 competitors from throughout the Southeast. Much like their counterparts at Tyger River Park, these visitors stay in area hotels and fill seats at restaurants along Highway 290.</p><p>“This community on 290 has been so supportive of us,” Wright said. “I've gotten to know the business owners and have developed legitimate friendships with them. It's also been interesting to see this area grow. I remember when it just had a McDonald's and a Clock, and it's grown so much with all the hotels and restaurants over the years.”</p><p>Nutt has been a member of the Middle Tyger YMCA since the 1990s and has seen firsthand its growth and the many championships its swim team has collected. </p><p>“We are fortunate to have the Middle Tyger Y and its top facilities in this area,” Nutt said. “It's another winning program for this area. And when people come to these swim meets, they are eating in our restaurants and staying in our hotels.”</p><p>All of this attention garnered by the sports clubs, programs and parks along Highway 290 have not gone unnoticed by Spartanburg's Convention and Visitors Bureau. Executive director Chris Jennings said while the area historically has been known for its sports, these facilities are grabbing a new wave of attention.</p><p>“Recently, Spartanburg has gained national publicity for hosting youth sports events — specifically softball and baseball tournaments at the new Tyger River Park, as well state and regional swim meets hosted by Y-Spartaquatics swim club at the Middle Tyger YMCA,” Jennings said.</p><p>“The CVB is working with the County Parks Department, county school districts, local clubs and community groups to bring more of these sports tourism events to Spartanburg County because it brings more visitors to our region who stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, buy groceries, shop and visit our attractions.”</p><p>Which is a win-win for all.</p>